Printing machines



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' PRINTING MACHINES Original Filed Nov/22, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS Feb. 4, 1958 'w. B. MILES PRINTING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Nov. 22, 1950 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Emmu.

Ema, NJ

DOLL/m5 BLANK NATIONAL BANK United States Patent PRINTING MACHINES William B. Miles, Bedford, Va.

Continuation of application Serial No. 196,979, November 22, 1950. This application November 23, 1955, Seria! No. 548,703

Claims. (Cl. 101-233) This invention relates to printing machines or printing presses of the rotary type in which the sheets to be printed upon are fed between the elements of a printing couple comprising an impression cylinder and a rotatable typecarrying member, this application being a continuation of my prior application, Serial No. 196,979, filed Novem ber 22, 1950, now abandoned. v

The principal object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved rotary printing machine of relatively small size which, due to the economy of space and simplicity of construction and operation afforded, is well adapted for general office use.

in fact, the novel printing press is eminently well suited for use in banks and business establishments, as well as printing plants, for the purpose of printing upon small sheetsfor example, bank checksindicia such as the name and address of the bank depositor. In addition tothis regularly repeated matter, the type member of the printing couple is designed to carry changeable printing elements adapted automatically to imprint upon the checks successively changing indicia such as the serial numbers of the checks to be issued to and used by the same depositor. I

The simplicity of the mechanism makes it possible for an employee of a bank or other industrial establishment, not particularly well versed in the printing art, to quickly and safely perform a printing operation and 'by reason of the simplicity of the design and the relatively small size of the machine it may be produced at a very moderate cost, thus making it easily possible for a small establishment to acquire the printing machine for its own occasional use.

The invention, in its preferred embodiment, contemplates the provision of a compact mechanism, capable of being driven by a small electric motor and including not only the rotary printing couple with appropriately arranged improved inking devices, but also a novel pile supporting and sheet feeding means synchronized with relation to the impression timing. Novel impression cylinder throw-off means, and improved sheet delivery and collecting devices are also provided.

By preference, the feed of sheets to the printing mechanism is from the bottom of the pile, and compact and etficient devices are provided for intermittently tilting the pile board to permit the bottom sheet, and the bottom sheet only, to be fed forwardly in a substantially horizontal plane beneath an accurately positioned front stop element arranged at the forward edge of the pile. Manually operable cam means is provided for holding the pile board out of operation when it is desired to discontinue the feed.

The impression cylinder makes two revolutions during each revolution of the type carrying element of the printing couple, and novel means are provided for swinging the impression cylinder out of contact position during non-printing portions of the cycle. Sheet actuated means are provided for locking the impression cylinder in its 2,821,916 Patented Feb. 4, 1958 impression position and other means are aiforded for locking the cylinder in its displaced position.

Unlike its larger prototypes, the impression cylinder of the present small and compact printing machine is not provided with cylinder grippers. Instead, the small sheets are stopped by means of an intermittently actuated front gauge device, between the type member and the displaced impression cylinder immediately before the latter is moved back to impression position, and the sheet thereupon gripped between the cooperating surfaces of the couple. It is to be noted in connection with the illustrated embodiment of the invention that the type blocks occupy only a minor arc of the angular extent of the type carrying element.

Other objects and features of novelty, including means for actuating the inking mechanism, will be apparent from the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which one embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a printing machine or press embodying the principles of the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine;

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of the printing press as seen from the right-hand side of Figures 1 or 2;

Figure 4 is a side view as seen from the left-hand side of the same figures;

Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on line 55 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 66 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a plan view of the rotatable member of the printing couple which carries the numbering and printing units;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view through the same member as taken on line 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the impression cylinder which constitutes the other member of the printing couple;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to Figure 3, but showing certain of the parts in different operative positions;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 11-11 of Figure 2, showing the sheet actuated trigger for latching the impression cylinder in contact position;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the front register device; and

Figure 13 is a plan view of a check, illustrative of the class of printed matter for which the press is suited.

The printing machine in its illustrated embodiment comprises a supporting frame indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, this frame including a low front wall portion 11 before which the operator may conveniently stand in tending the press. A right-hand side wall 12 and a left-hand side wall 13 extend upwardly considerably higher than the abbreviated front wall 11. The rear of the press framing is open, but the side walls 12 and 13 are cross-connected by various axles and shafts and also by the lower cross bar 14 and the rigid cross rods 15 and 15a, all of these elements to be seen in Figure 5 of the drawings.

The rotary printing couple comprises the type-carrying printing element which is in the form of a broken or interrupted roll or cylinder and is indicated generally by the reference numeral 20. This element of the couple is shown quite clearly in considerable detail in Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings, and comprises essentially the shaft 21 suitably journalled in the side frames 12 and 13 and carrying a gear 22 adjacent one end thereof just inside of the side frame member 13'. For the purpose of printing two serial numbers and the depositors name and address on checks, for which the exemplary embodiment is adapted, type blocks 24, 25, and 26 are fixed upon the shaft or axle 21 as by means of the screws or bolts 27. Element 25 carries removable type suggested at and will not be described in great detail, since the operative details form no part of the present invention, except in so far as the means for changing the numbers after each impression is concerned. This means comprises the rollers 31 which protrude slightly from the periphery of the type elements so as to be actuated by contact with the impression cylinder once for each impression.

The numbering machine block 24 and the printing type block 25 may be positioned along the shaft 21 at various spacings, and in fact the blocks may overlap to some extent by reason of the offset and notched formation of the shanks of the blocks as indicated particularly in Figure 8 of the drawings. The numbering machine block 24, for instance, is formed on one face with a curved or offset surface 32 and the other block 25 has a similar curved surface 33, the shank of at least one of the two type carrying members being cut away near its base so that the outer type carrying portions may overlap to some extent as indicated at the point 34.

Bearer discs 35 are provided on the type carrying element of the couple to gauge the peripheral contact of this element with the impression cylinder itself, these elements 35 being in rolling contact with the impressioncylinder during the printing phase of the cycle of operation The other member of the printing couple, the impres sion cylinder, is designated generally by the reference numeral and is shown most clearly in Figure 9 of the drawings. The cylinder is rotatably mounted on a rockable shaft 41 by means of the end discs 42 and 43 which discs are fixed within the ends of the tubular metal inner member 4-5. This tubular member is covered with a resilient blanket 46 which may be made of rubber or a similar composition as well known in the art.

The shaft 41 is provided with eccentric trunnion extensions 48 and 49 which are received within the bearings 50 and 51 set in the side frames 12 and 13 respectively. The cylinder itself, carried by the larger portion of the shaft 41, is spaced from the side walls 12 by means of the elements 54 (the function of which will be described later on) pinned to the end block or disc 42 of the impression cylinder at one side, and the gear 55 at the other side, this gear being pinned as at 56 to the end block or disc 43.

Upon the trunnion 48 of the impression cylinder shaft 41 there is rigidly fixed a crank-like bracket or lever 70, by means of which the impression cylinder shaft assembly 41, 48, 49 may be rocked about its eccentric mounting to move the cylinder intermittently into and out of contact with the type cylinder. The operation of the member 70 will be described presently.

In order to automatically keep account of the number of impressions made by the press, a counting mechanism of known or suitable type is employed and this device is indicated at 60 in Figures 1, 2, and 4 of the drawings. It is connected with the side frame member 13 by means of a bracket 61 and its shaft 62 has a crank arm 63 which is connected by means of a link 64 to a crank member 65 fixed upon the eccentric trunnion end 49 of the impression cylinder shaft 41. The counting mechanism 60 is thus actuated every time the shaft 41 is rocked.

Provision for inking the type is made by means of the mechanism indicated generally by the reference numeral 75 which is best depicted in Figures 1, 3 and 5 of the drawings. Side brackets 76 and 77 surmount respectively the two side frame members 12 and 13 and these brackets are provided with vertical slots 79 adapted to receive the ends of the axles of the several rollers of the inking mechanism.

The inking roller proper indicated at 80 comprises a composition cylinder carried by the shaft 81, the ends of which are received in the lowermost portion of the slots 79. Upon the left-hand end of the shaft 81 there is fixed 4 a gear 82 which meshes with the gear 22 of the type carrying element 20 and the surface of the inking roller is tangential to the type surface of the members 24, 25 and 26. For purposes of avoiding inking the discs 35 of the type carrying element 20 and the actuating rollers 31 of the changeable type of the numbering devices, the inking roller is cut away circumferentially at 85 and 86 and has its surface cut away or leveled off adjacent the rollers 31 at 87 and 88.

The uppermost roller of the inking arrangement 75 is indicated at 90 and comprises a fountain roller upon which the ink may be initial-1y applied. This roller is carried by a shaft 91 which is guided for rotation in the slots 79 of brackets 76 and 77.

Between the fountain roller 90 and the inking roller 80 there is interposed a distributor roller 95, this roller being carried upon an axle 96, the ends of which pass through and are guided in the slots 79 in the brackets 76 and 77.. The axle or shaft 96 of the distributor roll is elongated so as to remain in guiding contact with the slot during. longitudinal reciprocation of the roll which of course is for the purpose of better distribution of the ink from the fountain roller to the printing roller 80. The means provided for reciprocating the distributor roller will be described in connection with the drive of the press.

The printing press, the inking mechanism, and the sheet feeding device are all preferably driven from the electric motor 100 which is carried in the bracket 101 fixed to the front frame 11 as by means of the screws or bolts 102. The current may be fed to the motor by means of the conductor 103 and the motor may be started and stopped by means of the switch 104, all of which may be of conventional construction.

Upon the motor shaft 105 there is mounted a pulley 106. An idler shaft extends across the frame from one of the side frames to the other and this shaft carries a large pulley 111 which is driven from the motor pulley 106 by means of a belt 112. The pulleys 106 and 111 are preferably disposed just inside of the side frame member 13.

Just outside of the left-hand side frame 13 a pinion 115 is fixed upon the idler shaft 110 and this pinion meshes with an idler gear 116 carried upon a stub axle 117 mounted upon the frame 13. A second idler pinion 118 is carried by the same axle and fixed to the gear 116, but is of a smaller diameter. The two gears 116 and 118 may be made integral if desired. The gear 118 meshes with the gear 119 fixed on a stub axle 120 which also carries a pulley 121 adapted to rotate with the gear 119. The shaft 21 of the printing member 20 is extended through the frame 13 and carries adjacent its outer end a pulley 123 which is driven from the pulley 121 by means of the belt 124.

It has already been explained how the gear 22 fixed to the type carrier shaft 21 just inside of the side frame member 13 meshes with and drives the impression cylinder pinion 55 and also the inking roll pinion or gear 82.

Further tracing the drive from this point to the distributor roll of the inking member, it will be seen that the type carrier shaft 22 is extended through the frame member 12 and carries upon its outer end a worm 125 which meshes with a worm wheel 126 supported by means of the bracket 127. The worm wheel 126 is carried by a shaft 128 and upon this shaft is fixed a crank 129 which is connected by means of a link 130 to the lower arm 131 of a bell crank pivoted on a bracket 132 extending from the inker side frame 76. An upwardly extending arm of this bell crank 131 is indicated at 133 and operates between the flanges 134 of the rotary element 135 carried upon the end of the distributor roll shaft 96. It will thus be seen that as the worm on the type carrier shaft rotates it causes the crank '1-31 to oscillate and the arm 133 bearing alternately against the flanges 134 of the element 135 gives the distributor roll the necessary end- Wise movement to properly spread the ink.

Inwardly of the worm 125, and also fixed to the type carrying shaft 21 is a cam member 138, the raised camming portion of which extends for an arc of greater than 180 and is adapted to operate against the hook-like arm 139 of the impression cylinder rocking member or lever 70 which, as already described, is fixed upon the end of the eccentric trunnion 48 of the impression cylinder shaft 41. Extending from one end of the lever 70 is a longitudinally adjustable pin 140 which is connected as by means of a spring 141 to a fixed point 142 on the side frame member 12, thus urging the impression cylinder toward contact with the type carrying member. It will be readily been that as the cam 138 contacts the arm 139 of the lever 70 the impression cylinder will be swung out of impression position against the urging of the spring 141. An adjustable stop member 143 is carried by a bracket 144 fixed to the frame 12 for limiting the movement of the impression cylinder toward contact, and by this means the exact impression position can be regulated regardless of wear. Means for latching the bracket and therefore the impression cylinder in their extreme positions during operation will be described presently in connection with the feeding of the sheets to the printing couple.

A bar 150 extends across the frame from the side frame 12 to the side frame 13 at the left of the type-carrying member 20 as viewed in Figure 5, and this bar carries a front stop or gauge element 151 against which the sheets S of the pile are adapted to abut. The pile rests upon an oscillatable pile board 152 carried by the brackets 153 which are rockable about the pivots 155, these pivots conveniently comprising pointed screws threaded through the side frame members. The forward edge of the pile board 152 is provided with an adjustable screw 158 which may be located in adjusted position as by means of the nut 159 and the lower end of this screw bears upon the cam roller 160 which is fixed upon the driven shaft 161. The cam 160 has a cut-away portion 162 which permits the cam follower screw 158 to dip downwardly and permit the pile board to lower below the lower edge of the front gauge 151 and thus permit the lowermost sheet of the pile to be clear of the stop member 151. The lower limit of movement of the pile board is determined by the set screw 163 which abuts an angle bracket 164 carried by the frame.

The pile board 152 is provided with the rearward vertical pile guides 165 and the lateral guides 166, all of these guides comprising L-shaped brackets, the longer vertical arms of which confine the edges of the pile of sheets. The horizontal base arms 167 of the pile guide elements are provided with openings through which head pins or bolts 168 pass. These pins 168 also extend through slots in the pile board and are provided with coil springs 169 which are compressed between the bottom surface of the pile board and the washer-like spring stops 170 carried by the lower portions of the pins 168. In this way the guides may be adjusted freely in the slots in the pile board and resiliently held in adjusted position by means of the spring clamps.

Adjacent one of the rear corners of the pile board, conveniently upon the same side of the board as the gauge screw or cam follower 158 (see Figure 2) is positioned a rotatable cam element 175. This cam may be fixed upon a rocking pin 176 passing through the frame element 13 and provided with a thumb nut 177 upon the outer side thereof. By rotating the thumb nut, the cam may be depressed in contact with a raised surface 178 upon the upon side of the rear edge of the pile board and the pile board may be held in upward position regardless of the movement of the cam 160, and thus the feed from the pile locked out of operation.

For the purpose of feeding the bottom sheets from .the 1pile, when the pile board is lowered. beneath the gauging edge of the forward stop 151, there are provided a pair of friction surfaced feed rolls 180 which are disposed directly beneath the rectangular openings 181 in the pile board. A forward centrally located feed roll 182 is provided upon the same shaft 161 upon which the cam 160 is fixed. This forward feed roller is adapted to work in a notch or cut-away portion 183 in the forward edge of the pile board and also within a similar notch 184 provided in the rearward edge of a feed board 185 along which the sheet is fed from beneath the gauge or forward stop 151.

Forwardly of the feed roll 182 and working in cutaway portions 137 of the feed board 185 are conveyor rollers 189 which are mounted upon a shaft 190 and are surmounted by the upper presser rollers 192 carried upon a shaft 193. These elements serve to forward the sheet along the feed board toward the printing couple.

Forwardly of these feeding arrangements there is provided a roll 195 mounted upon a driven shaft 196 and entering a cut-away portion 197 of the feed board 185 beneath the path of the sheets. The roll 195 is provided with a peripheral groove 198 into which a finger 200 may enter, this finger being fixed upon a rock shaft 201 which extends across the frame and through the side frame member 12. Exteriorly of the side frame member there is fixed upon the rock shaft 201 a latch or trigger arm 203 which is counter-weighted and balanced so that the whole arrangement, including the finger 200 and the latch 203, may be rocked easily by the passage of a sheet along the feed board. In Figure 11, the arrangement is very clearly shown whereby a sheet will raise the finger 200 out of the grooves 198 of the roller 195 and the trigger 203 will be correspondingly rocked.

A pointed end 205 of the trigger or latch 203 is adapted to'occupy the position relative to the impression cylinder rocking lever 70 shown in Figure 10 of the drawings, when the printing couple is in impression position, that is, when a sheet is passing along beneath the trigger 200, an upper stop pin 206 and a lower stop block 207 (see Figures 3 and 10) limit the respective upward and downward movements of the trigger 205. When a sheet is not passing the trigger 200 and the trigger is in its downward position as shown in Figure 11, the latch arm 203 is in the lower position shown in Figure 3 with the point 205 abutting against the edge 210 of the lever 70. This, of course, occurs after the cam 138 on the type carrier shaft has moved the impression cylinder lever 70 downwardly as shown, against the tension of the spring 141. This arrangement prevents any accidental return movement of the impression cylinder to contact position until a sheet is pressed against the trigger 200.

In order to ensure that the sheets are maintained flatwise on the feed board 185 especially in the vicinity of the trigger 200, presser balls 215 are provided, these balls bearing upon the sheets and being retained by means of the plates 216 which are provided with suitable openings for receiving the balls.

In order to ensure that the impression cylinder operating lever 70, when it is in impression position such as shown in Figure 10, shall remain there and ensure an even impression, regardless of any vibration or other disturbances, there is provided a latching crank arm 220 pivoted at 221 to the frame member 12 and having its lower arm provided with an adjustable threaded rod 222 which may be locked in adjusted position by means of the nut 223. This rod is adapted to move downwardly behind the shoulder 225 of the lever 70 and retain the lever in impression position as shown in Figure 10. This movement is controlled by a flattened surface 227 on a cam part 228 carried by the shaft 221 and against which the upper horizontal arm 230 of the crank 220 is adapted to bear. A spring 232 urges the arm 230 against the camming arrangement just described. The upward or release position of this locking arrangement is shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, and this is the position of the various parts during the time that the impression isofi.

Just before the impression cylinder is brought into printing contact with the type cylinder the sheets are brought to register against the front gauge fingers 250 of which there are two in the present embodiment of the invention (see Figure 2). These registering stop elements are clamped in the brackets 251 which are fixed to the rock shaft 252, this rock shaft having appropriate bearings in the side frames. Upon one end of the rock shaft 252, for example, just inside of the side frame member 12, a bracket 254 is fixed to the rock shaft and this bracket carries a cam follower finger 255 which has a downturned forward end similar to the fingers 250, held in bearing relationship against the bar or lever 265 as by means of the spring 257 which extends from the shank end of the follower bar 255 to a pin 258 extending from the side frame member 12. The lever 265 is pivoted on the frame as at 266 and rests upon the sleeve or collar 54 on the impression cylinder shaft. Thus, upon each movement of the impression cylinder into and out of printing contact, the multiplying lever 265 will quickly swing the stop elements upwardly, and after the impression these elements will as quickly lower into their operative position for halting the sheet. After the sheet is passed between the members of the printing couple, it is guided by the curved scoop-like members 260, which are carried by the cross rod 15, down to the delivery pile 261 carried by the angular rack or pile board 262 which may be of any suitable or convenient construction, preferably being removable from the frame for convenience in removing the printed sheets.

The driving means for the various sheet feeding arrangements will now be described. For the purpose of driving the shaft 161 on which the cam 160 and forward feed roller 182 are mounted, there are provided idler gears 235 and 236 which are driven by gear 234 carried by shaft 21, and which mesh with the gear 237 carried by the shaft 161. This is shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. Referring to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, it will be seen that the shaft 196, carrying the grooved roll 195, is driven by idler 236 through gear 236. This shaft, on the opposite side of the press, is provided with a gear 238 which is connected by means of an idler 239 with a gear 240 mounted upon the feed roll shaft 190. Another idler 242 transmits the drive from the gear 240 to a gear 243 carried upon the shaft 245 upon which the bottom feed rollers 180 are mounted.

The general operation of the novel printing machine will be understood from the following description in connection particularly with Figures 3, 4, 5 and of the drawings, with occasional reference to other figures.

The small sheets to be imprinted, such as checks or the like shown in Figure 13, are stacked as at S in the pile carried by the oscillating pile board 152, the sheets being retained between the side guides 166, the rear guides 165, and the front stop bar 151. thus freeing the pile board 152 for automatic vertical tilting oscillation about the pivots 155. Once the machine has started, the cam 160 lets the pile board lower intermittently through contact with'the gauge screw or follower 158, this lowering being sufficient to bring the bottom sheet of the pile .into frictional contact with the initial feed rollers 180 and also spacing the pile board from the bottom of the front guide or stop member 151 a distance equal 'to the thickness of the bottom sheet. The cam gauge 162 is of such an angular extent as to permit the board to stay down in feeding position only long enough for one sheet to pass. The forward friction roller 182 aids in moving the sheet beneath the front guide and onto the .feed board 185 where it is seized between the driven rollers 189 and the pressure rollers 192 and fed beneath the holddown balls 215 adjacent the grooved roll 195. As .the sheet passes over this roll itrotates the trigger 200 in a counterclockwise direction in order to release the latch of the impression cylinder to permit it to move into printing position.

The cam 175 is released, I

The drive of the type-carrying member'or cylinder 20 has already been described and the manner in which this drive is transmitted to the impression cylinder and the inking mechanism is also clear from earlier descriptions. The cam 138 carried by the type cylinder shaft 21 intermittently moves the impression cylinder actuating lever downwardly to inoperative position against the tension of the spring 141, and permits it to again rise to 'impression position when the cut-away portion of the cam 138 passes the upper arm 139 of the lever 70. Each oscillation of the eccentric axle of the impression cylinder serves to advance the counter 60 through the linkage described.

The tripping of the trigger 200 by the advancing sheet moves the lever 203 out of the blocking position shown in Figure 3 to the idle position shown in Figure 10, thus permitting the lever 70 to move to a position which will bring the impression cylinder into printing contact with the type cylinder. During the time that the impression cylinder is thus in contact, it is prevented from being jostled or vibrated out of even impression contact by means of the cam operated latching crank 220 and its adjustable blocking pin 222.

The registry of the sheets within the printing couple by means of the intermittently actuated front stops 250, the ejection of the printed sheets from the printing couple against the chute or guide plate 260, and the final collection of the printed sheets upon the delivery pile, complete the sequence of operation, and these steps have been clearly described in connection with the explanation of the mechanism and elements involved.

It will be seen that the novel feature of mounting the impression cylinder for oscillation to and from printing position renders the provision of cylinder grippers unnecessary since the sheet is not carried around the impression cylinder. This is of particular merit in the present case in which the angular extent of the type is measured by very small arc on the type carrying member, and the diameter of the type carrying member is twice that of the impression cylinder.

It is understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the embodiment illustrated and described herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a printing machine operating in a cycle which includes printing and non-printing portions, a supporting frame, a printing couple which includes a rotary type carrier and an impression cylinder, means supporting said impression cylinder for rotation about its own axis and for bodily translation away from and towards said type carrier, means synchronized with the operation of the couple for normally bringing the cylinder to impression position during the printing portion of the cycle and moving the cylinder out of impression position during the non-printing portion of thecycle, locking means operative to maintain the cylinder in impression position once it has been moved there at the beginning-of the printing portion of the cycle, means rotating by virtue of the rotation of said type carrier for releasing said locking means at the end of the printing portion of the cycle, lockingmeans for maintaining the cylinder in out of impression position during what would normally be the printing portion of .the cycle, and means sensitive to the presence of a sheet to be printed for preventing the operation of said last-named locking means.

2. The printing machine as in claim 1 wherein said cylinder supporting means comprises a shaft upon which the cylinder is mounted, eccentric trunnion projections upon the ends of said s'hafthaving bearing support in the frame, and a crank lever fixed to one end of said trunnioned .ends of the shaft, and said synchronized means engages .the crank lever to rock the eccentrically mounted impression cylinder shaft to bring the cylinder shaft intermittently into and out of impression position.

3. The machine as in claim 2 wherein said' first-mentioned locking means includes a rockable bell crank, having a pin adjustably mounted at one end thereof, said crank being rockable to and from a position at which said pin abuts the said crank lever to lock the same in impression position and said releasing means comprises a cam engaging the other end of said bell crank to rock the same out of locking position.

4. In a printing machine operating in a cycle which includes printing and non-printing portions, a supporting frame, a printing couple which includes a rotary type carrier and an impression cylinder, a shaft upon which said' cylinder is rotatably mounted, lever means operatively associated with said shaft, said lever means being rockable to move said shaft and the cylinder supported thereby out of and into impression position, means synchronized with the operation of the couple from normally bringing the cylinder to impression position during the printing portion of the cycle and moving the cylinder out of impression position during the non-printing portion of the cycle, locking means operative to maintain the cylinder in impression position once it has been moved there at the beginning of the printing portion of the cycle, means rotating by virtue of the rotation of said type carrier for releasing said locking means at the end' of the printing portion of the cycle, locking means for maintaining the cylinder in out of impression position during what would normally be the printing portion of the cycle, and means sensitive to the presence of a sheet to be printed for preventing the operation of said last-named locking means.

5. The printing machine as in claim 4 wherein said first-mentioned locking means includes rockable means normally urged to a position at which one end abuts against said lever means to lock the cylinder in impression position and said releasing means includes cam means for rocking said' rockable means to a position out of abutment with said lever means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,865,611 Bonsch July 5, 1932 1,955,814 Kranz Apr. 24, 1934 2,059,561 Cowan et a1 Nov. 3, 1936 

